In the Age of ‘Slop,’ Digital Strategy in 2026 is All About Restoring the Feeling

What The Clipse Taught Me About Impact and Five Branding Lessons to Take into 2026

As the year winds down, it's been a natural moment to pause, reflect, and look ahead. 2025 reminded us that the digital world can feel full of noise; Merriam-Webster even named “slop” as th Word of the Year, further emphasizing an the oversaturation of content (and the hellscape of AI) that we've all been subject to. 

• Too much low-effort content; 

• Too little clarity, intention, or feeling.

This makes the branding work that I do with Courtney M. Fowler Creative more important than ever. The brands that stand out aren't the ones doing more; they're the ones doing it with definition, purpose, and human connection. They're restoring feeling in every interaction, every message, and every experience.

One of my favorite examples of this type of branding in 2025 didn’t come from marketing; it came from culture. In a recent GQ interview about the release of their critically acclaimed album, Let God Sort Em Out, dynamic hip hop duo, The Clipse, explained that their goal wasn’t just to put music out; it was to re-create enthusiasm. To see it and feel it in the world again, at a time when so many of the cultural touchpoints that once created debate, connection, and trust no longer exist.

That’s branding right now.

We’re surrounded by “slop” because it’s simple. Because it scales. Because it fills space. But it doesn’t build confidence. It doesn’t create recognition.
And it certainly doesn’t restore feeling.

The Clipse took the opposite approach: in-person moments, legacy media, career-spanning storytelling. Not nostalgia — definition. A clear sense of who they are, where they’ve been, and, after 16 years between albums, that their voices still have huge impact.

So what's the lesson from The Clipse's definitive branding? Intentionality beats noise every time.

Here are 5 ways to bring that approach to your brand in 2026:

Throughout the GQ interview, Malice described the response to the LGSTO as healing. It’s stuck with me – almost as much the album’s prolific bars 🤌🏾; a reminder that depth, intellect, and intentionality still resonate with audiences over than anything else.

When something thoughtful arises in a sea of sameness, it cuts through.

That’s the opportunity heading into 2026.

The brands that will stand out won’t be the ones producing more.
They’ll be the ones producing with purpose.

In a digital world full of noise, clarity is the competitive advantage.

And that is the work I’ve been privileged do with CMFC. In partnership with incredibly inspiring clients and brands, we’ve created digital strategies that feel aligned, human, and sustainable. From websites to CRM to content strategy to digital storytelling, the throughline is always precision, vision, and supporting your goals.

No one-size-fits-all solutions.

No shortcuts.

And absolutely no slop.

Here’s to finishing the year strong, and continuing the work in 2026 with clarity and intention connection.

With appreciation + gratitude,

Court
Courtney M. Fowler Creative; Helping brands move away from slop and toward substance through intentional, defined digital strategy.